Utility of circulating tumor DNA in esophageal cancer: A potential prognostic biomarker in tumor staging, monitoring of treatment response and detection of recurrent disease.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has clinical utility in monitoring treatment response and in the detection of disease recurrence in breast and colorectal cancer1,2. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ctDNA in the management of patients with esophageal cancer (EC). Methods:Blood samples and tumor biopsies were collected from 79 patients after diagnosis of EC. In patients planned for surgery, blood samples were taken before and after neoadjuvant treatment, and during the surveillance period. Blood and biopsy tissue samples were analysed for mutations using a custom targeted amplicon-based approach to cover mutational foci across 9 ..